< Previous134 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NNebraska Dept. of Econ. Dev.301 Centennial Mall South #4Lincoln, NE 68508Courtney DentlingerDIRECTOR402-471-3746Legislative Update• LB 1090 was a bill to adjust individual income tax brackets and the personal exemption credit, and establish that the standard deduction be based on the Consumer Price Index.A report from the Nebraska Department of Revenue shows that the State of Nebraska provided $2.045 billion in property tax relief and aid to local government agencies over the last year:• In the last ve years, aid to local governments has grown from $1,692,725,473 in 2013-14 to $2,045,921,331 in 2017-18.• In the most recent budget approved by Governor Ricketts and the Legislature, state aid to K-12 schools grew four times faster than the overall state budget.• In the last four years, the Governor and Legislature have successfully worked together to increase the property tax credit relief by 60 percent.opportunity.nebraska.gov“For the rst time ever, Nebraska is delivering over $2 billion in property tax relief and aid to local governments. Property tax relief has been a top priority in each of my budgets, and it will be my top priority in the upcoming budget.”— Gov. Pete Ricketts, October 1, 2018Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $513,581Number of NCRCs: 2,984 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 52.6%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: +2Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 7.65 Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.7GDP35th2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$111,466.20.00.51.01.52.02.53.020172016201520142013NebraskaPop. (2018): 1,957,158 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 0.79%Median household income: $56,415 Median age: 37Credit Rating: AAA/Stable Right-to-work state: YesDid You Know?The 97,300 manufacturing employees in Nebraska received an average annual compensation of $59,867, which is roughly $17,200 more than the state’s average non-farm wages.The top manufacturing sectors in Nebraska are: food and beverages; chemical products; machinery; fabricated metal products; motor vehicles and parts; plastic and rubber products; computer and electronic products; mineral products; and electrical equipment and appliances.Nebraska ranks second in the U.S. in total size of assets held by insurance companies, of which more than 180 call the state home.Selected Corporate Facility Projects 2018 NEW/ INVESTMENTCOMPANY CITY COUNTY TYPE EXPANDED PRODUCT (US$ M) EMPContinental Tire The Americas Clinton Hinds MF N Chemicals & Plastics 1,450 2,500Toyota Motor Corp. Blue Springs Union MF E Automotive 170 400Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi Guntown Lee MF E Chemicals & Plastics 100 50Raytheon Co. Forest Scott MF/RD E Aerospace 100 Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. Byhalia Marshall DW N Chemicals & Plastics 50 100Peco Foods West Point Clay MF/DW N Food & Beverage 40 300Nufarm Americas Greenville Washington MF N Chemicals & Plastics 20 68Fastenal Co. Gluckstadt Madison DW N Machinery, Equip. & Const. 12 60Uni ed Brands Vicksburg Warren MF N Machinery, Equip. & Const. 10 425Richardson Molding Philadelphia Neshoba MF E Chemicals & Plastics 5 53Seemann Composites Gulfport Harrison MF N Transport & Logistics 5 46Industrial Wood Products Vicksburg Warren MF E Wood Products 2 50Vertex Aerospace Madison Madison HQ N Aerospace 1 70Bradbury Logistics & Services Aberdeen Monroe MF N Metals 1 150Horne Ridgeland Madison HQ N Business & Financial Services DSV Solutions/DSV A/S Horn Lake DeSoto DW N Transport & Logistics DT = Data Center | MF = Manufacturing | OF = Of ce | HQ = Headquarters | RD = Research & Development | DW = Distribution/Warehouse136 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NNevada Governor’s Of ce of Econ. Dev.555 E. Washington Ave.,Suite 5400Las Vegas, NV 89101Steve HillEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR702-486-2700Legislative Update• The Nevada legislature did not hold a regular session in 2018. • On April 23rd, Governor Brian Sandoval nominated 61 Opportunity Zones, pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which established an Opportunity Zone tax incentive, designed to encourage long-term private investment in low-income communities. All 61 were certi ed by the U.S. Treasury in June.• “During my time as Governor, we have invested signi cant resources in Nevada,” Governor Brian Sandoval said. “While we have seen substantial returns, there are still parts of our state that need additional assistance. It is my hope that by nominating these 61 low-income opportunity zones, private investors will choose to fund projects in these areas that bene t the Nevadans who need it most. What’s more, we believe that communities surrounding the 61 opportunity zones will also bene t from investment in the zones.”diversifynevada.com“Every big business started with a small business. They started small, and I want to encourage those entrepreneurs to have an opportunity to grow, to become a part of Nevada and the dream that we all realized.”— Gov.-elect Steve Sisolak, Nov. 8, 2018, on KNPR’s “State of Nevada” programHigher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $205,761Number of NCRCs: 8,560 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 21.5%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: -2Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 7.67Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.18GDP33rd2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$142,851.901234520172016201520142013NevadaPop. (2018): 3,025,735 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 1.59%Median household income: $55,443 Median age: 38Credit Rating: AA/Positive Right-to-work state: YesDid You Know?In addition to its home base in Las Vegas, data center company Switch has started operations at its Citadel Campus in Tahoe Reno, which will have a capacity of up to 17.4 million sq. ft. and up to 850 MW of power upon completion, making it the world’s largest colocation data center campus.In advance of the move of the NFL’s Raiders team to Las Vegas in two years, in February the Henderson City Council approved the sale of 55 acres of land near the Henderson Executive Airport for $6 million to the NFL’s Raiders organization for the team’s training complex and corporate headquarters. The project is expected to bring about 250 full-time jobs for non-players to Henderson.R&D expenditures at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas totaled more than $66 million in FY17, and university innovators were issued eight patents. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in December 2018 gave UNLV “R1” status, a designation reserved for institutions with “very high research activity.”Selected Corporate Facility Projects 2018 NEW/ INVESTMENTCOMPANY CITY COUNTY TYPE EXPANDED PRODUCT (US$ M) EMPGoogle Henderson Clark DT N IT & Comm. 600 50Aero-Spec Ndt Services Reno Washoe OF/MF N Business & Financial Services 125 30Sephora North Las Vegas Clark DW N Life Sciences 103 460Komatsu Equipment Co. Elko Elko MF/DW N Machinery, Equip. & Const. 47 Krs Global Biotechnology Henderson Clark MF N Life Sciences 35 50Oasis Biotech Las Vegas Clark MF N Food & Beverage 30 135Axion Corp. Reno Washoe MF/DW/HQ/RD N Electronics 28 205C4 Mining Co. Clark OF/DW N Business & Financial Services 25 13Smith’S Food & Drug Centers Henderson Clark DW N Life Sciences 23 182G4 Works Clark MF/DW E Transport & Logistics 20 20Mecp1 Reno 1 McCarran Washoe OF N IT & Comm. 19 50Advance Technologies Management Clark MF E Paper, Printing & Packaging 18 50MMMG Sparks Washoe MF/RD N Life Sciences 15 DT = Data Center | MF = Manufacturing | OF = Office | HQ = Headquarters | RD = Research & Development | DW = Distribution/Warehouse138 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NNew Hampshire Div. of Econ. Dev.172 Pembroke Rd.Concord, NH 03302Chris WayACTING DIRECTOR603-271-2591Legislative UpdateGovernor Chris Sununu, Attorney General Gordon MacDonald, and Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell announced in August further actions by New Hampshire State Government in the wake of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc.In that decision, the court overturned existing law, which required that a seller be physically present in a state before that state may impose sales and use tax collection obligations upon the seller. As a result, more than 10,000 jurisdictions that have a sales and use tax may seek to impose collection requirements on out-of-state sellers, potentially including New Hampshire businesses.“The actions announced today are important steps that the Executive Branch can take while we continue to push for legislative action,” Sununu said. “While we remain hopeful that meaningful legislation can be enacted either this fall or next session, I have made clear to my administration that state government must do all it can in the meantime to protect New Hampshire businesses in the weeks and months ahead.”nheconomy.com“In our ever-changing economy, we must make strategic one-time investments to meet the long-term skilled workforce needs of our state and ensure the next generation has the opportunities available to advance their careers.”— Gov. Chris Sununu on October 24, 2018, on an initiative to address workforce shortage in New Hampshire’s healthcare industry and to invest in the future of the state’s STEM workforce.GDP39th2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$74,408.00.00.51.01.52.02.520172016201520142013Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $455,859Number of NCRCs: 6,821 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 9.1%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: 0Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 13.12Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.7New Hampshire Pop. (2018): 1,374,067 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 0.50%Median household income: $71,195 Median age: 43Credit Rating: AA/Stable Right-to-work state: No S I T E S E L E C T I O N JANUARY 2019 139South Dakota Governor’s Of ce of Econ. Dev.711 E. Wells Ave.Pierre, SD 57501Scott SternCOMMISSIONER605-773-4633sdreadytowork.com“We cannot recruit businesses, we cannot do education properly, if we don’t have high-speed internet to a lot of our small towns in this state.”— Gov.-elect Kristi Noem, in pre-election comments to Fox affiliate station KEVN, Nov. 4, 2018Legislative Update• After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Wayfair vs. South Dakota that states can collect sales tax from out-of-state online retailers, Gov. Dennis Daugaard called a special session in order to lift an injunction blocking the state from doing just that. Sales tax collection began on November 1.• Lawmakers passed a funding arrangement for new precision agriculture labs and classroom space at South Dakota State University in Brookings.• A multi-state licensure agreement for about 150 different occupations that would have allowed certain professionals to work in South Dakota if they were licensed in another state failed in the House.2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$45,431.30.00.51.01.52.02.53.020172016201520142013GDP47thHigher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $112,916Number of NCRCs: 26,426 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 26.2%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: -1Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 7.99Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.73South DakotaPop. (2018): 889,876 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 1.05%Median household income: $54,091 Median age: 38Credit Rating: AAA/Stable Right-to-work state: YesNorth Dakota Dept. of Econ. Dev.1600 E. Century Ave., #2Bismarck, ND 58503John SchneiderDIRECTOR ED/FINANCE701-328-5300business.nd.gov“We have gifted researchers, entrepreneurs and technology right here in North Dakota — as well as natural attributes such as open skies, variable climate, agriculture and energy — to diversify our economy and continue our trajectory as a national leader in UAS.”— Gov. Doug Burgum, announcing in November a $30 million proposal to build out infrastructure that would support beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) across North DakotaLegislative Update• In response to an infrastructure funding package proposed by Republican legislators in July, in advance of the coming biennial session in 2019, Gov. Burgum said, “We commend legislative leaders for proposing a plan that addresses critical infrastructure needs across our entire state for the long-term bene t of our citizens, while also still maintaining funding for hub cities in the oil patch.” • Burgum in April designated 25 areas in North Dakota as Opportunity Zones under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.• Burgum in March convened 60 leaders to update them on his administration’s ve strategic priorities: Reinventing Government, Main Street Initiative, Transforming Education, Tribal Partnerships and Behavioral Health. “Budget challenges, demographics, digital transformation, cybersecurity challenges and very tight national, state and local labor markets are all powerful forces,” he said, “that will require us to re-envision our current siloed agency approach to delivering services.”2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$50,795.4-8-6-4-20246820172016201520142013GDP46thHigher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $255,942Number of NCRCs: 1,309 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 72.2%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: +2Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 8.55Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 0.82North DakotaPop. (2018): 797,210 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 1.88%Median household income: $60,183 Median age: 38Credit Rating: AA+/Stable Right-to-work state: Yes140 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NNew Mexico Econ. Dev. Dept.Joseph M. Montoya Bldg.1100 S. St. Francis Dr.Santa Fe, NM 87505Therese VarelaDIRECTOR505-827-0323Legislative Update• In May, Governor Martinez announced 63 Opportunity Zone designations in New Mexico. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Opportunity Zones to spur investment in distressed communities throughout the country. New investments in Opportunity Zones can receive preferential tax treatment. New Mexico’s Opportunity Zones are located in rural, tribal and urban communities in 22 counties.• Designation as an Opportunity Zone allows for the creation of a new class of investment vehicle with tax advantages authorized to aggregate and deploy private investment to support economic development projects located in Opportunity Zones. The purpose of these tax advantages is to attract capital investment into economically-distressed areas.gonm.biz“We must make attracting outside money to our state a priority. FDI will help to stimulate economic growth and development while providing nancing for development, contact with new technologies, better management techniques, and access to international markets. States across the country are miles ahead of where we need to be.”— Gov.-Elect Michelle Lujan Grisham, in her economic policy planGDP37th2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$90,969.1-1.5-1.0-0.50.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.520172016201520142013Fiscal Condition Index RankHigher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $374,131Number of NCRCs: 34,800 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 8.5%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: -1Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 5.822018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.5New MexicoPop. (2018): 2,147,526 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 0.43%Median household income: $47,457 Median age: 38Credit Rating: AA/Stable Right-to-work state: No S I T E S E L E C T I O N JANUARY 2018 1412017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$190,917.5-3-2-1012345620172016201520142013GDP28thOklahoma Department of Commerce900 N. Stiles Ave.Oklahoma City, OK 73104Deby SnodgrassEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND TOURISM EXECUTIVE405-815-5306Okcommerce.gov“I want us to be top 10 in education ... and to make sure we have the right funding for schools. And not only common ed. We have to work with CareerTech and higher ed. Everything we do has to be student-focused.”— Gov.-elect Kevin Stitt, in a Nov. 7 interview with Tulsa WorldLegislative Update• The rst new taxes passed in Oklahoma in 30 years were signed into law by outgoing Gov. Mary Fallin in March, with revenues to be directed toward teacher pay raises averaging $6,100 a year. But that did not prevent teachers from staging a two-week walkout in protest of long-term cuts to education funding. In addition to higher gas and cigarette taxes, the gross production tax on oil and gas wells will rise from 2 to 5 percent, which is expected to cost the industry about $170 million a year.• An amendment to the Small Employer Quality Jobs Incentive Act increases the initial employment threshold from 90 to 500 full-time employees and modi es the minimum new employment level requirements based on the population of the municipality where the establishment applying is located.• A new law provides that the Oklahoma Tax Commission is authorized and directed to make tax credit data available on its website on or before January 1, 2020.Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $506,458Number of NCRCs: 141,005 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 6.2%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: -5Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 5.12Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 1.71OklahomaPop. (2018): 4,035,516 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 0.79%Median household income: $50,384 Median age: 38Credit Rating: AA/Stable Right-to-work state: Yes142 JANUARY 2019 SI T E S E L E C T IO NEmpire State Development633 Third AvenueFloor 37New York City, NY 10017Howard ZemskyPRESIDENT/CEO212-803-3100Legislative UpdateA $163.8 billion budget bill was signed into law in April 2018. Among other provisions, it earmarks: • $26.7 billion for education funding, a $1 billion increase over the previous year.• $7.6 billion for higher education.• $1.2 billion towards programs aimed at making higher education affordable.• $118 million for the Excelsior Scholarship, a program which allows eligible students to attend CUNY and SUNY colleges for free.Esd.ny.gov“The continued growth of Regeneron here in New York is yet another indication that we are leading the way in the life sciences and attracting the jobs of tomorrow. Regeneron’s expansion will further drive economic growth in the Capital Region and fuel lifesaving innovation and development that bene ts the entire world.”— Gov. Andrew Cuomo on September 11th commenting on Regeneron’s $800-million expansion in Rensselaer County, which is forecast to create 1,500 new jobsGDP3rd2017 GDP(in millions of current US$)$1,414,313.4-0.50.00.51.01.52.02.520172016201520142013Did You Know?New York is home to more than 350,000 software and digital media jobs and 22,000 rms. Digital media contributes $5 billion to New York’s economy and accounts for 100,000 jobs in New York City alone.New York State ranks No. 2 among states with adults who have four or more years of college education. The Long Island–based Center for Biotechnology helps start and grow biotech rms with resources including four incubators and a 245-acre research park.One of the largest wind farms east of the Mississippi River, capable of producing 320 MW of clean, renewable energy, is located in upstate New York off the eastern end of Lake Ontario.Selected Corporate Facility Projects 2018 NEW/ INVESTMENTCOMPANY CITY COUNTY TYPE EXPANDED PRODUCT (US$ M) EMPAmazon.com Borough of Queens Queens HQ N Electronics 2,500 25,000Google New York City New York HQ N IT & Comm. 1,000 Latham & Watkins New York City New York OF N Business & Financial Services 440 Conmed Corp. Lancaster Erie MF N Life Sciences 365 WeWork Companies New York City New York OF N Business & Financial Services 200 Regeneron Pharmaceuticals East Greenbush Rensselaer MF E Life Sciences 188 300Apollo Global Management New York City New York HQ E Business & Financial Services 165 Northwell Health Bethpage Nassau MF/DW N Life Sciences 80 Alexandrion Grup Romania SRL Carmel Putnam MF N Food & Beverage 40 102Urban FT New York City New York OF N IT & Comm. 32 Asahi-Shuzo Sake Brewing Co./Culinary Institute Of America Hyde Park Dutchess MF N Food & Beverage 28 Discovery Communications Manhattan New York HQ N IT & Comm. 25 Travelclick New York City New York OF N IT & Comm. 24 Milburn Ridge eld Corp. New York City New York OF N Business & Financial Services 24 DT = Data Center | MF = Manufacturing | OF = Of ce | HQ = Headquarters | RD = Research & Development | DW = Distribution/WarehouseHigher Ed. R&D Expenditure: $6,359,672Number of NCRCs: 2,829 | Percent Improvement 2017-2018: 49.6%Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2018-2019: +1Lowest Electric Power Cost (cents/kWh): 6.07Fiscal Condition Index Rank2018 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 3.08New YorkPop. (2018): 20,070,143 Pop. growth 2018–2023: 0.38%Median household income: $63,751 Median age: 39Credit Rating: AA+/Stable Right-to-work state: NoNext >